A potluck is a gathering of people where each participant is expected to bring a dish of food to be shared among the group. Baptist Potluck is where we will be gathering for "food for thought" from Baptists and "food for the soul" from the Word of God.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

MORMONISM: and what people want to know part 2

Part 2

MORMONISM:

And what people want to know. Does

The Church of

JESUS CHRIST

of Latter-day Saints

have a different Jesus Christ?

19 - IS JESUS "JEHOVAH" BUT NOT "ELOHIM"?

20 - WHERE WAS JESUS BORN?

21 - WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?

22 - DOES JESUS RECEIVE WORSHIP?

23 - WAS JESUS A POLYGAMIST?

24 - DID JESUS HAVE A HEAVENLY MOTHER?

25 - IS JESUS AN INSUFFICIENT SAVIOR?

26 - DID THE LDS JESUS PERSPIRE TO BE THE SAVIOR?

27 - IS JESUS CHRIST INFERIOR TO JOSEPH SMITH?

28 - WHO IS THE SOVEREIGN SAVIOR?

29 - DID JOSEPH SMITH SEE JESUS?

30 - IF JESUS HAD TO PROGRESS TO GODHOOD, THEN WHY DIDN’T MORONI?

31 - IF JESUS CHRIST IS IN THE NAME OF THE LDS CHURCH, DOESN’T IT FOLLOW THAT MORMONS HAVE TO BE CHRISTIANS?

32 - WHICH JESUS IS YOUR JESUS?

33 - IS JESUS CHRIST A FALSE GOD OR IS HE THE ALMIGHTY GOD?

34 - DOES THE BIBLE IDENTIFY JESUS AS BEING GOD?

35 - WHAT ARE SOME OBJECTIONS TO JESUS’ DEITY?

36 - IS JESUS CHRIST DEITY? IS HE HUMANITY?

19 - IS JESUS "JEHOVAH" BUT NOT "ELOHIM"?

Trying to maintain separate gods, Mormonism confuses "LORD God" which comes from the words "Jehovah-Elohim." How can anyone miss the meaning of "LORD God" in the Bible? (Genesis 2:4-22; Deuteronomy 4:1; Judges 5:3; 1 Samuel 2:30). Examples from the "Joseph Smith Translation" are in 1 Kings 8:60 and Exodus 34:14. This is no more confusing than to read "Jesus Christ." Jesus is the Christ. Jehovah is Elohim. However, the LDS are half-right at least to know that Jesus is Jehovah.

If He is not JEHOVAH, who alone is named JEHOVAH? (Psalms 83:18). If this excludes JESUS, why does He share the Father’s name? (John 17:11). So if the Father’s name is Elohim, then the Son’s name has to be Elohim too.

If He is not JEHOVAH, who is named "THE LORD" or "JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"? (Jeremiah 23:6). If this is not JESUS, who is this King who shall reign on the earth? (Jeremiah 23:5).

If He is not JEHOVAH, why is Jehovah called the "mighty God"? (Isaiah 10:20-21). If this is not JESUS, why did Isaiah also say the Son is "The Mighty God?" (Isaiah 9:6).

If He is not JEHOVAH God, who was Israel’s Rock? (Deuteronomy 32:4). If this is not JESUS, why would Paul declare "that Rock was Christ!" (1 Corinthians 10:4).

If He is not JEHOVAH, whom did Isaiah see high and lifted up in his vision? (Isaiah 6:1-13). If this is not JESUS, why did John declare that Isaiah was seeing the glory of Jesus? (John 12:41).

If He is not JEHOVAH, why did Isaiah write about two Persons and both who are Jehovah? The King of Israel is Jehovah (Isaiah 44:6a), but if this excludes JESUS, why is His redeemer Jehovah of hosts? (Isaiah 44:6b).

If He is not JEHOVAH, whose feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives bursting that mountain from east to west in dramatic evidence of His power and authority? (Zechariah 14:3-5; Matthew 24:27-31; Revelation 19:11-21). If this is not Jesus, who physically rose from the Mount of Olives and will visibly return there in like manner? (Acts 1:9-12).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who else is the "true and faithful witness"? (Jeremiah 42:5). If this is not JESUS, who is walking in the midst of the churches "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning (beginner - Greek) of the creation of God"? (Revelation 2:1; 3:14).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who created everything by Himself? (Godhead. No angels or work crew Romans 1:20; Isaiah 44:24; 45:8-12; Malachi 2:10). If this excludes JESUS, why would Scripture declare He made all things? (John 1:3; 14:2; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:2,10). The Holy Spirit was active in creation as well (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:23).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who forgives sin and "will by no means clear the guilty"? (Exodus 34:7). If this is not JESUS, who said to the poor "sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven thee"? (Mark 2:5).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who said, "That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear"? (Isaiah 45:22-23). If this is not JESUS, how is it that His name is above every name? Why would every knee bow to Jesus? Why would every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord-Jehovah? Why would this glorify the Father if Jesus is not worthy as being the Almighty God? (Phil. 2:9-11).

If He is not JEHOVAH, of whom did David write, "The LORD is my shepherd"? (Psalms 23:1). If this is not JESUS, who is the "good shepherd," the "one shepherd," and "that great shepherd of the sheep"? (John 10:11,16; Hebrews 13:20).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who "maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still"? (Psalm 107:28-29). If this is not JESUS, who "arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm"? (Matthew 8:26).

How clear! Jesus Christ is Jehovah-God, the Almighty. Jehovah-Elohim is God.

20 - WHERE WAS JESUS BORN?

The Mormon Jesus was not born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Mat. 2:1) but in Jerusalem (Alma 7:10). Trying to excuse this, Mormon logic says Jerusalem is a region. No, Jerusalem is a city. When God inspired Micah the prophet to write "Bethlehem," God meant Bethlehem (5:2). And if someone named "Jesus" was born in Jerusalem, whoever he was, he was not the Jesus of the Bible. The devil’s star may seem so bright but it leads you to the wrong baby.

21 - WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?

We don’t claim to know when Jesus was born, but Joseph Smith claimed to know. Jesus was born on April 6 (D&C 20:1). If so, why isn’t this when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings Christmas carols?

22 - DOES JESUS RECEIVE WORSHIP?

Since the apostle Bruce McConkie died, the LDS is leaning away from him. However, when he was alive he was popularly endorsed. That’s why he preached at BYU. He claimed, "We worship the Father and him only and no one else. We do not worship the Son and we do not worship the Holy Ghost" (BYU Devotional Speech, March 2, 1982). How interesting to claim to have the same Jesus as Christians, but they do not worship him. If the Book of Mormon is scripture, then follow it to fall down and worship Jesus Christ (3 Nephi 11:17; 17:10).

Who are we to worship? God’s angels do not accept worship because this belongs only to God (Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9). Satan is not worthy of worship (Matthew 4:10). But we worship Jesus Christ as God and with His approval. The wise men and disciples worshiped Jesus as God. Jesus Christ is being worshiped by angels (Hebrews 1:6). He is worshipped in Heaven. Jesus receives what the Father receives in worship (Matthew 2:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9-10, 17; Rev. 4:10-11; 14:7).

Jesus made Himself equal with God, as affirmed by Scripture (John 5:18). This quote in John is inspired from the Apostle John, not from the words of the Jews who could have been mistaken. Jesus continued, if you do not give Him the same worshipful honor equal to the Father's, then your honor of the Father is worthless (John 5:23). What an ideal time for Jesus to make His identity known if He is only a spirit-child of the Father and a brother to the devil.

So for apostle McConkie and for the LDS church, not giving Jesus Christ worshipful honor equal to the Father's, the LDS honor to the Father is rendered worthless. Isn’t this ironic for the LDS religion to have "JESUS CHRIST" in the name of their church and yet they will not worship Him?

23 - WAS JESUS A POLYGAMIST?

Joseph Smith introduced polygamy, and as being an "everlasting covenant" (D&C 132). He said the failure to abide in it is to be "damned".

As prophets Spencer W. Kimball and Brigham Young clarified, there can be no exaltation without marriage. "If one is going to be in God’s kingdom of exaltation, where God dwells in all his glory, one will be there as a husband or a wife and not otherwise. Regardless of his virtues, the single person, or the one married for this life only, cannot be exalted…‘If he wishes to be saved, he cannot be saved without a woman at his side’" (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 245).

LDS apostle Orson Pratt explained a polygamy being practiced by God. "God the father had a plurality of wives…the son followed the example of his father, and became the great bridegroom to whom king’s daughters and many honorable wives were to be married" (The Seer, p. 172).

The exalted man-god sexually produced these spirit-children, which includes Jesus, Lucifer, all the angels and devils, and everyone on earth. Since there are countless angels and billions of people, how did their sexual relations ever keep up with the birth rate?

The role of the woman is not so good. This Heavenly Father populated earth by one of his wives, but she was just one of several and sharing him with others. While Christians look forward to serving the Lord in Heaven, LDS ladies at best can only plan to serve their polygamist husbands. So ask a woman with half a dozen kids, "How would you like to have another child every year?" As her role in heaven, she is to be a birthing-machine, as queen bees mass-producing offspring to populate a world. No wonder the dear LDS who turn to Christ rejoice in the truth of Matthew 22:29-30. There are no marriages in Heaven since everyone is special in the family of God.

LDS apostle Orson Hyde claimed, "Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children" (JD, Vol. 2, p. 210). So Jesus was married and he was a polygamist. "Jesus was the bridegroom at the marriage of Cana of Galilee...if Jesus was not the bridegroom on that occasion, please tell who was" (JD, Vol.2, p. 210, 89). Well now, come on! Have you ever heard of a bridegroom who needed to have an invitation to come to his own wedding? (John 2:2).

This foolishness knows no bounds, even to say the reason Jesus was crucified was because of practicing polygamy. "The grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon Christ and his disciples, causing his crucifixion, was evidently based on polygamy...a belief in the doctrine of a plurality of wives caused the persecution of Jesus, and his followers" (LDS Seventh President, Jedediah M. Grant, JD, Vol. 1, pp. 345-346).

24 - DID JESUS HAVE A HEAVENLY MOTHER?

Yes, according to Mormonism. Jesus had a heavenly mother. And we have this same heavenly mother. "This doctrine that there is a Mother in Heaven was affirmed in all plainness by the First Presidency of the Church" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 129, 516, 751).

Some LDS people would like to pray publicly to that "mother" but the church refuses. Why? She is of an inferior godhood while in "most perfect obedience" to her "great head"--her husband (The Seer, p.159).

But since there is nothing in the Bible nor the Book of Mormon about a Mother God, McConkie appealed to sentiment while citing a Mormon hymn (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 516-517). Too obvious! Wouldn’t God know His own wife if He had one? (Isaiah 44:8).

25 - IS JESUS AN INSUFFICIENT SAVIOR?

The Mormon Jesus has been stripped of his unique deity. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is robbed of its power to make his death only to bring immortality, not eternal life. That Jesus only leaves us trying to obey Mormon laws, ordinances and priests in order to earn eternal life after all we can do. The Articles of Faith says, "We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel" (Article 3). This Mormon gospel is the laws and ordinances which oppose the finished work and full cleansing power of the cross of Christ.

The pamphlet "What the Mormons think of Christ" found in LDS visitor’s centers is to refute the saving grace of Christ. It reads, "Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject, however, is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one’s salvation. For instance, many believe or pretend to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept him as our personal savior, we are thereby saved. They say that his blood, without any other act than mere belief, makes us clean" (p. 22).

Joseph Smith presented a Christ who is without redemptive power. Even the fruit of the vine was exchanged for water at the communion table, their sacraments.

26 - DID THE LDS JESUS PERSPIRE TO BE THE SAVIOR?

Jesus bore our sins at Gethsemane according to Mormonism. The early quotes are like this one: "Forgiveness is available because Christ the Lord sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane as he bore the incalculable weight of the sins of all who ever had or ever would repent...In a garden called Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem's walls, in agony beyond compare, he took upon himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance" (The Promised Messiah, LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, p. 337 & 552. Also: Gospel Principles, 1988, p. 58; The Mortal Messiah, LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, pp. 127-128; Church News, 1 June 1991, p.14; Ensign Magazine, April, 1981, p.19; Conference Report, Marion Romney of the LDS First Presidency, Oct. 1953, p.35).

This is why Mormon art and films make much of showing Jesus praying by a rock in Gethsemane. Christians do not forget the great agony of the Lord in Gethsemane as the place of sorrow where Jesus went to pray and prepare. But that was not where He took upon Himself the sins of the world.

Now the LDS teaching seems to be changing, but who’s surprised? Christians demonstrate that "Gethsemane" is only twice in the Bible and never used in the redemptive sense, but the message of the cross is throughout the New Testament. So the current position suggests that the atonement was through the garden and the cross.

Why would any religion wanting to be known as Christian become such "enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction"? (Philippians 3:18-19). You should look these powerful passages up and read them. God is absolutely clear that Jesus Christ bore our sins at the cross (Romans 5:8-11; 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:13-16; Philippians 3:18-19; Colossians 1:20; 2:13-15; Hebrews 9:14-15, 25-26; 10:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18).

What happens to any religious people who miss placing their faith where God tells us to have it? The LDS do not believe Biblical doctrines. So the Jesus of Mormonism is false and their atonement is false, then the faith is false, meaning "vain", useless, or worthless in 1 Corinthians 15:2, 14, 17. The value of faith is not from its size but from the object in which it has been placed. The greatest faith in someone false is still totally worthless. All of the sincerity and false messiahs will never bridge the gap to God.

27 - IS JESUS CHRIST INFERIOR TO JOSEPH SMITH?

Why do we ask? The LDS bear witness of Joseph Smith. Christianity knows nothing of confessing Joseph Smith or any other man. Jesus told us who to confess. "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God" (Luke 12:8).

Brigham Young claimed, "No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith" (JD, 7:289). No wonder one popular LDS conference song is "Praise to the Man," Joseph Smith. "I will now give my scripture…'every spirit that does not confess that God has sent Joseph Smith, and revealed the everlasting Gospel and through him, is of Antichrist'" (JD, 8:176). Who is Christian? Brigham said it, one faith or the other is of Antichrist.

How great is Joseph Smith? He preached, "I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam...Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it" (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408-409). Greater in his accomplishments that Jesus? So how did he "come out"? He died soon after that. What about holding the church together? There are at least a hundred sects of Mormonism all calling the others apostate. Why is there so much division in the churches?

So Joseph Smith is exalted. Another exaggeration is: And no one will do a greater work than Jesus until the advent of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 6:408-9).

28 - WHO IS THE SOVEREIGN SAVIOR?

Was Joseph Smith ever comparable to the Sovereign-Savior?

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who is the only God and Savior? (Isaiah 43:11; Titus 1:3-4). If He is not our God and SAVIOR, why are we "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ"? (Titus 2:13).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, coming back on that great white horse? (Rev. 19:11,16). If He is not our SAVIOR, who was riding on that little donkey down the streets of Jerusalem? (Matthew 21:1-5).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, "Who is this King of glory?" (Psalms 24:10). If He is not our SAVIOR, how could Paul say they "crucified the Lord of glory"? (1 Corinthians 2:8).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who is the First and the Last, the only God? (Isaiah 44:6). If He is not our SAVIOR, who is the Almighty, the first and the last, declaring, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore"? (Revelation 1:8,11,17,18).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who burned Sodom and asked, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25b). If He is not our SAVIOR, who is the Son of man who judges all things? (John 5:22,27).

If He is not SOVEREIGN, who else is worthy to sit upon the "throne" of God? (Revelation 22:1,3). If He is not our SAVIOR, why is that "throne" shared with "the Lamb"? (Revelation 22:1,3).

If He is not SOVEREIGN, who will not give His glory to another? (Isaiah 42:8). If He is not our SAVIOR, who is coming in the Father’s glory? (Mark 8:38; John 17:5; Revelation 5:13).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who cast the devils out of a hopeless man telling him to share how God had set him free? (Mark. 5:19; Luke. 8:39). If He is not our SAVIOR, why did that man apply everything to Jesus Christ? (Mark 5:20; Luke 8:39).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who is the Prince of Peace? (Isaiah 9:6). If He is not our SAVIOR, who said to His troubled disciples, "Peace be unto you"? (John 20:19).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who did Michael the Archangel call upon to rebuke the devil? (Jude 9). If He is not our SAVIOR, how could Jesus rebuke the devil and destroy him that had the power of death? (Matthew 4:10; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who countered Satan, "Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and him only shalt thou serve"? (Matthew 4:10). If He is not our SAVIOR, why would the disciples hold Jesus by the feet to worship Him? (Matthew 28:9,10,17).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, why did the Lord God promise to seek His sheep? (Ezekiel 34:11-16). If he is not our SAVIOR, who is the Son of man who came "to seek and to save that which was lost"? (Luke 19:10).

Jesus Christ is the Sovereign God. So you need the right God if you ever plan to have the right Savior.

29 - DID JOSEPH SMITH SEE JESUS?

LDS Prophet Hinckley at the General Conference on October 4, 1998, clarified, "Our entire case as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rests on the validity of this glorious First Vision" (Church News, Oct. 10, 1998, p.17).

In 1832, Joseph Smith described the first vision in his own handwriting which was verified by the historian office of the LDS Church. "In this story, only one personage was mentioned…the Son" (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1966, p.40).

For a transcript see, An American Prophet’s Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith, 1989, pp.3-8. The first vision was of only one person.

Historian James B. Allen noted, "In this story, only one personage was mentioned…obviously the Son" (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1966, p.40). Marvin S. Hill, the professor of American history at BYU, said, the 1832 account is probably more accurate and Joseph Smith may have changed his views concerning God.

When was the official LDS account of "two Personages" recorded? Not until 1838. Now think it through. If you were there to meet God the Father and Jesus Christ, how would you forget how many beings were there? In every Biblical account of a revelation of God, no one was just sitting calmly on the ground like the pictures of Joseph Smith. The LDS "official account" is clearly just bad history.

Is the Father in Heaven an exalted man? No! (Numbers 23:19; John 4:24; Luke 24:39). Alma 18:26-28 confirms that God is no man.

Joseph Smith changed the King James Version Biblical text while writing his own bible. So Joseph’s rewritten bible allowed him to see God. Examples: "Thou canst not see my face at this time" (Exodus 33:20). "…no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son" (John 1:19). "No man hath seen God at any time except them who believe" (1 John 4:12). Joseph Smith changed hundreds of verses but not one change can be substantiated by the Biblical manuscripts.

Bottom line, Brigham Young said that all Joseph Smith really saw was an angel. "But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p.171).

30 - IF JESUS HAD TO PROGRESS TO GODHOOD, THEN WHY DIDN’T MORONI?

Moroni is unique to the LDS, being the alleged son of Mormon. Here is a commended man who never achieved godhood. Why would Moroni only be an angel? That’s not right or consistent. "The exaltation which the saints of all ages have so devoutly sought is godhood itself" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321).

This angel story will never fly! The Doctrine and Covenants introduction, reads, "Joseph Smith received visitations from Moroni, an angel of light" (1979 and earlier editions). That was removed but why? Maybe because Mormon Doctrine read, "ANGEL OF LIGHT - See devil" (1966 ed., p. 35). So that is very clear like the Bible is clear about Moroni. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Orson Pratt said, Moroni "translated a record that contained the everlasting Gospel in all its fullness" (JD, Vol. 18, p. 175, 1876). Who but that angel of light would have changed the saving gospel of Jesus Christ which is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4?

31 - IF JESUS CHRIST IS IN THE NAME OF THE LDS CHURCH, DOESN’T IT FOLLOW THAT MORMONS HAVE TO BE CHRISTIANS?

How naïve! One complaint about the wards is there is so much about Joseph Smith and so little about Jesus Christ. Its more like "The Church of Joseph Smith of the LDS." Even attending on Easter, the great Resurrection Day, they had nothing about Jesus Christ. Now why is that?

Joseph Smith contentiously opposed Christianity. He claimed "they were all wrong...their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt" (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith - History 1:18-20).

Brigham Young contemptuously held that "The Christian world, so called, are heathens as to their knowledge of salvation of God…With regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Journal of Discourses 8:171, 199).

Is the Book of Mormon another testament of Christ? Then why say Christianity is "the church of the devil...the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth"? (1 Nephi 14:10). Trusting in the Bible alone is to be "fools" (2 Nephi 29:3-6).

More is in the Doctrine and Covenants. It identifies the LDS as "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased" (1:30). But it says that Christians "build up the kingdom of the devil" (10:56).

We find that same spirit of contention being very strong as the temple ceremonies mock Christians, especially before being changed. The Manti Pageant openly bashes and misrepresents Christianity.

A Mormon writer claims there is no way to exclude the LDS from Christianity, but Jesus corrects him in Matthew 7:21-23. Elderly Mormons remember when the LDS were "not" Christians. So when did the LDS church become Christian? Where do we read the apologies? When did it embrace the truth to change to Christianity? Has the church renounced the theology, the history, the hostility, and the years of apostasy from Biblical Christianity? If not, then we know the present leadership agrees with the past.

Can Mormonism be excluded from Christianity? It has excluded itself. The symbols to represent a faith include the golden calf, the Star of David, a dome on a Mosque, and for the LDS, the golden Moroni. But Christianity looks to the cross of Jesus Christ. The symbol of Moroni properly distinguishes the LDS as outside of the Christian faith.

Christians look on with dismay. How can any religion redefine God, redefine Jesus Christ, and redefine the gospel and then claim to be Christian? All of the LDS "scriptures" have drastically changed in this brief history of the LDS church. The living LDS prophets have learned not to prophecy or to write "scriptures" because the earlier LDS prophets were rarely even close to getting anything right. Mormonism cannot be Christian until it denounces its heresies. So let the LDS church take "JESUS CHRIST" from its elder badges and just put Mormonism there, because the LDS church certainly does not know Jesus Christ.

While Bible Christianity invites research to determine its credibility, history, prophecy, archeology and scientific facts, why is Mormonism so offended over investigation? And what the LDS fail to understand is that nobody is really a "Christian" by simply joining any certain church.

What if I after writing this, I bear witness to you that I am a Mormon? What would you say? "No, you’re not." You might ask me if I reject Joseph Smith and all of the LDS prophets as of God? Do I believe in the Book of Mormon and LDS Scriptures? Do I think the baptisms for the dead are valid? And what about the temple endowments and the LDS gospel? I say, I definitely do not believe in any of it. I have not discovered anything that the LDS church has right. Then you would charge me that I’m not a Mormon because I do not believe what Mormons believe. That’s it exactly! And that is why the LDS cannot claim to be Christians when they refuse to accept what the Bible teaches and what true Christians believe. Christians never claim to be Mormons, so then why do Mormons claim to be Christians?

God warns about those who bring us the doctrines of another Jesus. Does the LDS faith pass the test of Scripture? No. "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29). Mormonism has many defenders but no defense.

32 - WHICH JESUS IS YOUR JESUS?

When a faith claims some kind of a Jesus, does that determine then that it is genuine Christianity?

The Cosmic Christ of Matthew Fox is just the "I am" in every creature.

The Course in Miracles Jesus is our combined Christ consciousness. Oprah claims her Jesus is not the only way or he would be the biggest egotist who ever lived. The New Ager’s Jesus is a spirit guide as the Christ-consciousness within and encountered by visualization. David Spangler’s Christ is the same force as Lucifer with an invitation into the New Age.

Benjamen Crème from his master, Lord Maitreya’s Christ is the Master of all the Masters but not God and never claimed to be God.

Eckankar’s Jesus was the Ultimate Guru as one of all of the saviors and prophets who came to earth.

The Family (Children of God) Jesus was just another sinner.

The Golden Ruler’s Jesus was just an example so you could save yourself.

Benny Hinn’s Jesus had to be born again. Kenneth Copeland’s Jesus was conquered by the devil on the cross. "When I read in the Bible where God tells Moses, ‘I AM,’ I say, ‘Yah, I am too!’"

Islam-Sura’s Jesus was no more than a mortal who Allah favored and made an example to the Israelites.

The Jehovah’s Witness Jesus is Michael the Archangel, a created being who became a man.

The Masonic Jesus like the Bahai’s Jesus is just a dead prophet like Mohammed.

The Oneness Pentecostal’s Son of God existed from all eternity as a plan in the mind of God. The United Pentecostal Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit.

The Roman Catholic Jesus has to be contacted through His mother.

Roy Masters Jesus is an inner revelation process.

The Christian Science Jesus is a Divine Idea.

The Scientology Jesus was not enlightened, being a shade above clear. The real messiah is Hubbard.

Self-Realization Fellowship says Christ is the universal consciousness and oneness with God.

The spiritist Jesus of the occult is the ultimate medium in the sixth sphere of astral projection.

The Theosophy Jesus is the reincarnation of the world’s soul.

The Transcendental Meditation Christ says to be still and know that you are God.

The Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon’s Jesus is an error if you think Jesus was God since he is no different from other men.

The Unitarian Universalism Jesus is not to be regarded as supernatural.

The Divine Life Society Integral Yoga Institute Christ is not a person but an experience like Nirvana.

The Way International Jesus existed only in the mind of God before conception into Mary's womb.

Now if I gave you some paint and a brush, do you think you could improve on the Mona Lisa or would you mess it up? Who is the original Jesus? Every false religion tries to diminish Jesus Christ. So Jesus is under examination, but if you dissolve a painting down, then it is not worth much anymore. And if you chip down the real Jesus Christ, He is not worth much either. In this age of tolerance, perhaps the most acceptable position is to say they are all right. But once you say that, they are all wrong. In this case, it is not this painting being on trial. YOU are!

Who is Jesus? To every eternity-bound soul, anything else should pale in comparison to this question. Walter Martin, an expert on the cults, often commented that the name "Jesus" is the union card of the cults. Everyone has a Jesus but are they Christians? If you don’t know where the goal posts are, how are you even going to get into the game?

There is a growing spirit in this age to reject Biblical Christianity in favor of the eclectic idea that anything will do. Religious tolerance! Many claim that it is offensive and bigoted to say that the Christian faith is superior and that Jesus is the only way to Heaven and salvation is found in Him alone. In cultural relativism no one truth is absolute. But to believe anything different has to be offensive to God.

Jesus came to be the Savior of the world. That includes our world of all races, all nations, all generations, and all religions. The grace of God is inclusive to all, but it is exclusive in that only Jesus and the right Jesus can ever save you. "…the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (Deuteronomy 4:35b).

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:16-17). We need "this" Jesus!

"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?" And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 16:15-17).

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). These religions even reject truth from Jesus Himself. Will any "messiah" satisfy? Yes, and they have multitudes. Any messiah will do as long as he or she or it is not "that" Jesus. He cannot be the One born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth of Galilee, who lived 2000 years ago, was crucified for our sin, then rose from the dead. They may disagree among themselves about my truth and your truth, but they basically all will agree that "that One" is not true.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

"But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?" (1 Corinthians 10:20-22). To worship any false gods is likened to following after devils. So "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (1 John 4:3). "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 John 1:7).

Then who is the Jesus of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints? The Book of Mormon warns to "seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written" (Ether 12:41). So we ask the LDS kids leaving on their missions: "Are you going to preach Mormon doctrine or Book of Mormon doctrine?" What? They are not the same.

33 - IS JESUS CHRIST A FALSE GOD OR IS HE THE ALMIGHTY GOD?

The role as God will never be shared. "I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me" (Isaiah 43:10). Then can Jesus Christ be God before God? God after God? No.

There are clear Biblical distinctions between the true God and the false gods. Satan is "the god of this world," but is he God? (2 Corinthians 4:4). Moses seemed as a god to Pharaoh, but was he the eternal God? (Exodus 7:1). Cornelius wanted to worship Peter as a god (Acts 10:26-27). Herod was viewed as a god (Acts 12:21-22). Idolatry worships idols, people, or devils as gods because anything can be "called gods"(1 Corinthians 8:5-6).

"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods" (Galatians 4:8). "By nature" were any of these the true God? The devils are fallen angels by nature. They are not God and they are not human. People are human by nature. We are not angels or gods in embryo. However, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in essence and "by nature" the eternal God.

The devil wanting to be worshipped as God will be "brought down to hell" (Matthew 4:9; Isaiah 14:12-15). False gods are judged.

God granted the dishonest judges power to sit in seats of authority to rule in His stead, but God mocks them to say, "Ye are gods…But ye shall die like men" (Psalm 82:6-7). The false gods are judged. For insight on John 10:34 see "In the Beginning Man" at < www.letusreason.org/LDS8.htm >. Or see "Kings and Priests, YES, Gods – NEVER" at < www.macGregorministries.org/ >.

Can you think to copy the Alpha and Omega and attain Godhood? If the Lord is the first, how can man copy that? Without living perfectly, exaltation is impossible to any of the LDS (Mormon Doctrine, p. 237; Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol.3, p. 26; Doctrines of Salvation 2:6). "This progress toward eternal life is a matter of achieving perfection…the repentance which merits forgiveness. It is that the former transgressor must have reached a ‘point of no return’ to sin" (LDS prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 208, 354-355). How many believe Kimball earned his eternal life?

What happens to all of the little "g" gods? Every self-exalting god and from all religions and for all time are imposters. So God says they will all perish. Then I do not want to be a god. But how chilling for the LDS to read this fact. "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish" (Jeremiah 10:10-11). Every false god will be judged. What about gods in embryo? They will perish!

34 - DOES THE BIBLE IDENTIFY JESUS AS BEING GOD?

Who is the Almighty God? Do the LDS even know there is an Almighty? Jesus said the Old Testament Scriptures are about Him. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:39-40). Have you come to Jesus Christ alone for your eternal life?

Who is Jesus Christ according to the Bible?

1. Jesus is the true God (I John 5:20). In Greek grammar, "this" refers to the closest noun in the masculine gender. Therefore "Christ" is the true God. The Bible (or even the Book of Mormon) does not waver from there being only one true God (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8; 45:5,6,14,18,21,22).

2. The word "one" speaks of singularity, generally speaking. The Holy Spirit is Lord (2 Corinthians 3:17) but in Isaiah 44:6, both the Father and the Son (two Persons) are the one Lord-Jehovah. Reading "one" God as in Deuteronomy 6:4, the word is the Hebrew composite unity of one. One family or one crowd speaks of multiple persons as one (Genesis 2:24; Ezra 3:1). If James and Jenny have a son, Jimmy, each is a distinct person. They are three yet one as a family. They might send Jimmy to the store. Jesus is one of the three Persons within the Godhead. The one God of three sent Jesus to earth.

3. Jesus is the coming One in (Revelation 22:20), but the coming One is Almighty God (Rev. 1:8).

4. Jesus coming and the fulfilling of prophecy is synonymous to God coming to earth (Mat. 1:23).

5. Jesus is identified as God by the Father (Hebrews 1:8). The Father calls the Son "God" and the Son calls the Father "God" (John 20:17).

6. The Greek distinctively calls Jesus "the God" (Mat. 1:23; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8), so Bible prophecy, the disciples and the Heavenly Father give the identity of "the God" as being Jesus Christ.

7. Jesus possesses all that is necessary for His position within the Godhead (Colossians 2:9). "All" means all and "full" means full! So Christ is lacking in no quality of deity.

8. Jesus is the great "I am," the self-existent, eternal God (John 8:24,58; Exodus 3:14). And it is interesting to see the Septuagint. Yesterday, Jesus was not "I was." Tomorrow He is not "I will be." Jesus Christ transcends time in every direction. You have one of two ways to die, either as a believer or as a doubter. Jesus warns, "If ye believe not that I amhe, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). The Pharisees like other religions were attacking the Lord’s credentials. Then which way would you die if you were to die today, in your sins or secure in Christ? You either bear your sins or Jesus bore your sins at the cross. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Read it. Where are your sins placed right now? Can you say that you "know" you have eternal life today? (1 John 5:13).

9. Jesus is God, the only Savior (Isaiah 45:21; Luke 2:11; Titus 1:3-4; 2:13). In Titus 2:13 the word "and" is connecting two nouns with a definite article in front of the first and not the second. This means it is connecting equals. There are 256 usages of this principle and no exceptions to the Greek rule. The great God is Jesus Christ!

10. Jesus was resurrected by God (Acts 2:24,32). And yet Jesus claimed that He would resurrect His own body from the dead. The disciples believed Him and the Scriptures (John 2:18-22). Do you? He functioned without a body before the world was so while His body was in the tomb the spirit of Jesus was alive.

11. Jesus is from everlasting (Micah 5:2). This is only true of God (Psalm 90:2).

12. Jesus is the LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16; Deuteronomy 10:17). He is not "LORD of all the other Lords except One." There is only one who is the Lord God (Jude 4). John wrote "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" as larger than any of the other words in Revelation 19:16. So make no mistake about it, Jesus Christ is the Lord God!

13. Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). "The LORD is my Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1). Jesus is the Great Shepherd in Hebrews 13:20. There are not two Shepherds with two folds, being in heaven and earth, or to live in our own worlds (John 10:16).

14. Jesus was pierced (John 19:37; Revelation 1:7). Prophetically the LORD God who made the heaven and earth says it was "me" (Zechariah 12:10).

35 - WHAT ARE SOME OBJECTIONS TO JESUS BEING DEITY?

Religious objections which include

:

1. Jesus was "subject" to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:28). Yes, but Jesus was also subject to Joseph and Mary. He was never inferior to them (Luke 2:51). Jesus Christ was willingly subject but never inferior in any way by nature (Galatians 4:8).

2. The Father is "greater" than Jesus (John 14:28). Greater does not translate as better or superior. Jesus is better than angels for example. Greater speaks of position, not nature. Jesus spoke this from His earthly position. A husband is the head over his wife but the wife is never inferior by nature (1 Corinthians 11:4). Both are equally human. Rather the husband has the "greater" position and responsibility as the leader. A general has greater position than does a sergeant, but both are men. Clearly, Jesus as God is not inferior by nature.

3. Jesus was "the beginning of creation" or beginner (Revelation 3:14). In the Greek, He was the "arche," as the "architect" of the project. An architect is not part of what is made like a wall. Creation did not produce Jesus; Jesus produced creation!

4. Is Jesus the "wisdom" produced in creation? (Proverbs 8). In context wisdom is "my sister" (7:4). If Jesus is "wisdom" then who is the other character in 8:1? To confuse personifications and poetic symbolism is a sure way to great foolishness.

5. Jesus is "the firstborn" (Colossians 1:15). Firstborn is not the word for "first-created" in origin. It is the word for a natural heir or priority position. In context, Jesus holds all things together, being the firstborn in preeminence" (vs. 17-18). Joseph’s youngest son (Jer. 31:9; Gen. 41:51), David the eighth son (1 Sam. 16:10-13; Psalm 89:27), and Israel as a nation (Exodus 4:22) are all firstborn in preeminent position.

6. Jesus is the "only begotten Son." "Son" is not the Greek word for offspring or little born one but Jesus is uniquely the eternal Son of God (Psalm 2:7, explained in Acts 13:33). Isaac was the only begotten son of Abraham yet Ishmael was his first son (Hebrews 11:17). Ishmael was a genuine son like Jacob’s sons but Isaac was uniquely the son of Messiah’s line.

7. The word "Trinity" is not in the Bible. Neither is "theocracy," "Christendom," or "millennium." But they are all useful for describing truth. Jesus Christ is God, one of the three Persons of our one triune God.

36 - IS JESUS CHRIST DEITY? IS HE HUMANITY?

If He has no DEITY, why did Isaiah prophesy "a Son is given"? (Isaiah 9:6b). If He has no HUMANITY, why did He write, "For unto us a child is born"? (Isaiah 9:6a).

If He has no DEITY, when was Jehovah God sold for 30 pieces of silver? (Zechariah 11:11-13). If He has no HUMANITY, who did Judas sell for 30 pieces of silver? (Matthew 26:14-16).

If He has no DEITY, Whose eyes are like a flame of fire? (Revelation 1:14). If He has no HUMANITY, who lamented over the city of Jerusalem and was weeping at the grave of Lazarus? (Matthew 23:37; John 11:35).

If He has no DEITY, who is He whose hair was white like wool, as white as snow? (Revelation 1:14). If He has no HUMANITY, whose hair was matted and dripping with His own blood under a crown of thorns? (Matthew 27:29).

If He has no DEITY, how is Jehovah God pierced? (Zechariah 12:10). If He has no HUMANITY, who was pierced and crying out from an old rugged cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do"? (Luke 23:34; John 19:37; Revelation 1:7).

If He has no DEITY, who stepped out on the front porch of Glory, looked at nothing and made everything? (John 1:3). If He has no HUMANITY, whose body lay behind the stone that He made? (John 20:1).

If He has no DEITY, who said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will lift it up"? (John 2:19). If He has no HUMANITY, why did John say, He was speaking of His "body"? (John 2:21).

If He has no DEITY, why are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit three different Persons of one true God? (Isaiah 45:5-6; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 14:16; 2 Cor. 13:14). If He has no HUMANITY, why did He have half brothers and sisters as different persons of His one human family? (Psalm 69:8; Mat. 13:54-56).

JESUS CHRIST IS THE ALMIGHTY GOD! He was in the "form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7). So was He just pretending to be a servant or was He really a servant? Jesus is in the "form of God" (vs. 6). Was He just pretending to be God or is God? The answer is obvious.

If you have the right Jesus, then you are right for all eternity; but if you have the wrong Jesus, you will be wrong for all of eternity. Have you ever wondered where to turn for the truth? Is it to a church, a temple, a clergy or to some prophet? Early Christians turned first of all to Jesus Christ. Go to JESUS! He is the Truth who can set you free! (John 8:32,36; 14:6).

Do the LDS have the God of the Lord’s apostles? Who is the Jesus of the apostles? He is "My Lord and my God"? (John 20:28). Jesus is "God". But He is more than that to the one who believes. Jesus Christ is "my God" to those who trust Him.

Jesus as the good Rabbi would have corrected Thomas if what he said was wrong. Rather He affirmed that he was exactly right. Thomas was a true believer. Jesus adds that you and I, if we believe the very same thing, we are equally blessed (vs.29).

Is He God to you? Is Jesus Christ your God? If not, why not make your relationship personal with Jesus Christ as "My Lord and my God" today? Will you receive Jesus Christ as your own God, your Jehovah, your Sovereign, and your Deity?

This is not meant to hurt the precious Mormon people. To personally know the true God is the only way for anyone to gain eternal life (John 17:3; 1 John 5:13). I suggest that you read the Book of John and underline everything about how to have eternal life and who Jesus is. Then TRUST HIM!